Indomitable Alcaraz survives huge scare against Struff in Madrid Open thriller
The Spaniard edged past Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4) in Madrid. He will play Russian Andrey Rublev, the No 7 seed, in the next round
Carlos Alcaraz, Madrid Open, 2024 © Zuma / Panoramic
Carlos Alcaraz is through to the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open for the third year in a row, but not before having to battle past a superb performance from Jan-Lennard Struff, eventually edging past the German 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4) in front of a delirious home crowd in the Caja Magica.
In a rematch of last year’s highly entertaining final, this contest was arguably the match of the tournament so far as this season’s encounter far outstripped the pair’s meeting in 2023 for sheer sporting drama.
For the second year in a row, Struff pushed the defending champion to three sets, fighting back from a break down in both the second and third to force a thrilling final tiebreak.
All the while, both players were going toe-to-toe with a breathtaking exhibition of clay-court tennis at its finest.
Struff and Alcaraz each held serve excellently until the sixth game of the first set, when the two-time defending champion struck the first blow.
That break proved decisive for the set, as Alcaraz held serve comfortably to move into a one-set lead.
It looked to be a straightforward afternoon for the young Spaniard as he broke again in the opening game of the second stanza stanza to establish a commanding hold on the match.
But Struff made a timely breakthrough in the fourth game, finally breaking Alcaraz’s serve with an excellent return on break point.
Both serves remained intact for the rest of that set, before a captivating tiebreak ensued.
Alcaraz led 3-1 in the breaker, but Struff – always such a dangerous competitor at the Caja Magica – played superbly to overturn the deficit and power his way through to a final-set decider.
Yet again, however, it was the world No 3 who struck first in the third set, breaking in the fourth game to surge into a 5-2 lead.
As the result had looked all but inevitable, and the rapturous Madrid crowd starting their processional celebrations, Struff then lifted his level yet again, winning three games in a row – the most significant of which was a sensational fightback from 0-40 down on Alcaraz’s serve when trailing 5-3.
The German saved four match points in total, before taking his third break point in a thrilling ninth game to break back and hold serve for 5-5, leaving the Caja Magica crowd audibly stunned.
Stunned silence turned to genuine concern as Alcaraz had to save a break point in the eleventh game en route to a fitting tiebreak finish.
As was the theme of the match, the Spaniard raced into a 3-0 lead in the deciding breaker, before yet again being pegged back by the indefatigable Struff.
Ultimately, however, Alcaraz’s sheer brilliance shone through once again, as he won the final four points of the match in scintillating style to survive an almighty scare against a truly excellent opponent.
struff falls agonisignly short again, while rublev lies in wait for alcaraz
“Honestly this match reminds me of last year’s match,” Alcaraz said in his on-court interview.
“It was really difficult from the first point until the last one. It was a great fight and it was difficult for me to deal with my emotions, to handle certain difficult moments in the match.
“Serving for the match it was really tough for me after being 40-0 up. I’m really happy at the end it didn’t affect me and my game and my mentality.
“I kept fighting. That’s all that matters.”
Alcaraz then addressed his adoring home crowd, who were behind the Spaniard throughout the contest.
“I have to say thanks to the people who supported me til the last point. I think they pushed me to not give up and keep fighting.
“I’m going to say this win is thanks to them as well. It’s incredible to have this crowd behind me.”
Struff, who endured a difficult end to 2023, missing both Wimbledon and the US Open through injury, once again showed just how good a clay-court player he is. It was a performance well worthy of a top 5 player, and at the age of 34, the German still looks as though he has much to give to this sport.
For Alcaraz, he marches on to a third straight quarter-final in Madrid. It is now 14 straight wins for him in the Spanish capital, matching Rafael Nadal‘s record of consecutive wins at the tournament.
If Alcaraz is to break that record and make it to 15 – and reach a third straight semi-final in the process – he will have to defeat the resurgent Andrey Rublev next.
If that one is anything like today’s match, it will be well worth a watch.
